Sculthorpe's conversion put his side in front, but the captain - finally leading the side for the first time after being made skipper a year ago - was cruelly forced off with knee ligament damage after 16 minutes.

Keiron Cunningham had already had another try ruled out when 20-year-old Graham entered the fray in the 25th minute.

It was a good night at the office

GB coach Brian Noble

Barely a minute later the young Saints prop showed exactly why he is so highly rated with an angled run to finish off a score created by Terry Newton.

Newton was also at the heart of the next try, fending off three Kiwis before off-loading to the outstanding Paul Wellens, who sent Long racing through the middle from halfway.

Long converted both to give Britain a commanding 18-4 lead - and it might have been more with Gardner denied a try when Martin Gleeson's pass was adjudged marginally forward.

Britain started the second half on the defensive but kept the Kiwis out before Wellens stepped into the line to send Senior over after 47 minutes.

The full-back then sent Graham through for his second after Long's cleverly weighted chip.

When McGuire stepped between two defenders to put Britain 34-4 ahead in the 53rd minute, the game was already up.

Only Fa'afili's last-minute try prevented Britain from eclipsing their highest winning margin against New Zealand, a 53-19 victory at Pau in the 1972 World Cup.

Great Britain coach Brian Noble:"It was just the exercise we needed. That gives us a lot of confidence.

"We've got a pretty good team there, and that's as fluent as we've been with the ball.

"Defensively we were very, very strong. That was a good New Zealand team. To keep them to 14 points is really pleasing.

"We saw some shape and good tries from our guys as well. It was a good night at the office and gives fuel to the fire for the Tri-Nations.

"It will also fuel New Zealand's fire at the end of the year. If they watch this down under they'll be thinking 'yes, Britain can play a bit'."

New Zealand coach Brian McClennan:"It was very hard for us, we only had two training sessions.

"It shows that Test football is very difficult and you have got to have that familiarity with your team-mates.

"But it gives players the opportunity to play. We really don't get enough Tests.

"The Tri-Nations is a great concept but other than that we don't get a lot of international football.